Novel Fluid Management System for Microfluidic Devices

描述(由申请人提供)： 微流控技术是开发用于诊断和/或治疗患者的新技术的宝贵工具。将微流控产品推向市场最困难的问题之一是流动性管理。目前，微流体设备依靠微型泵阵列、止回阀等来管理流体运动，这导致微流体系统的制造和使用成本较高，尤其是设计为一次性的微流体系统。因此，需要开发一种更便宜、更高效的流体管理系统，以帮助将更多的微流体设备推向市场。Lynntech建议开发一种适用于微流体系统的新型流体管理系统，该系统将一系列廉价的电化学泵与微型充气膀胱独特地结合在一起，以移动微流体芯片中的多种流体。第一阶段项目将专注于电化学泵阵列的制造和可行性论证，以置换微流控芯片中的流体。在第二阶段项目中，Lynntech将进一步优化电化学泵，并构建完全集成的原型。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Microfluidics is a valuable tool in the development of new technologies for diagnosis and/or treatment of patients. One of the most difficult problems to bring microfiuidic products to the market place is fluid management. Currently microfiuidic devices rely on miniature pump arrays, check valves, etc. to manage fluid movement, which contribute to a higher cost in manufacturing and use of microfiuidic systems, particularly a microfiuidic system designed to be disposable. Therefore there is a need to develop a cheaper more efficient fluid management system to help bring more microfiuidic devices to the market place. Lynntech proposes to develop a novel fluid management system for microfiuidic systems that uniquely combines an array of inexpensive electrochemical pumps with miniature inflatable bladders to move multiple fluids in the microfiuidic chip. The Phase I project will focus on the fabrication and demonstration of the feasibility of the electrochemical pump array to displace fluids in a microfluidic chip. During the Phase II project, Lynntech will further optimize the electrochemical pumps and build a fully integrated prototype.